Homeopathy

Anthroposophically Extended Medicine (AEM) is a truly integrative healing system. AEM represents an expansion, not an alternative to conventional medicine. Its unique understanding of the interplay among physiological, soul and spiritual processes in healing and illness serves to bridge allopathy with naturopathy, homeopathy, functional/nutritional medicine and other healing systems.

BACKGROUND: Complementary medicine is increasingly popular with patients and with GPs, although it still remains mainly in the private sector. Few data are available from the private sector about patient-consulting patterns and outcome. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe detailed consulting patterns, help-seeking behaviour and outcome of care for patients attending a group of private complementary practitioners in a single general practice surgery.

Extracts of Helleborus species are used as phytopreparations with immunostimulatory properties in Romanian traditional medicine. In Germany, Helleborus niger is used in homeopathy and as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of tumor patients in anthroposophical medicine. In vitro application of an aqueous extract from Helleborus niger resulted in a slight induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy individuals, an effect associated with a slight increase of the [3H]thymidine uptake in the DNA of isolated lymphocytes.

Naturopathy being orientated towards natural science and conventional medicine does not lead to basically different judgements about unconventional treatments nor about special therapies such as homeopathy, phytotherapy or anthroposophic medicine. It may, however, be more open-minded towards new ideas and theoretical even philosophical concepts and it is more likely used to question the 'state of the art' of actual medical knowledge.

To evaluate the extent and motivations of self-medication, a survey was conducted among 376 adolescents aged 15 to 20 using both written questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. 84% reported having taken some drug during the preceding 15 days, 57% on their own initiative. The most frequently cited drugs were analgesics, vitamins, homeopathy and anti-inflammatory drugs. Psychotropics had been taken by 7% (as self-medication by 3%). Street drugs, mainly cannabis derivatives, had been taken by 18%.

Forty percent of general practitioners in the Netherlands practice homeopathy. With over 100 homeopathic medical schools, homeopathy is practiced in India along with conventional Western medicine in government clinics. In Britain, 42% of general practitioners refer patients to homeopaths. Two recent meta-analyses of homeopathy both indicate that there is enough evidence to show that homeopathy has added effects over placebo. Against this evidence is a backdrop of considerable scientific scepticism.

The history of homeopathic medicine was focused on the present work since the first ideas historically described by Hypocrates, Galeno, Paracelsus and Hahnemann. We intended to give an idea of the evolution of medical sciences in general, including the gradual arise of ideas which led Hahnemann to create homeopathy.

436 patients from two different clinics of internal medicine and one orthopaedic unit were asked to fill a questionnaire on their attitude towards and use of alternative medicine. Of the 272 questionnaires returned, 235 could be used for analysis. 42.6% of all analysed persons confirmed use of alternative medicine. About half of them were motivated to do so by their nursing staff. Homeopathy was by far the most frequently used method. Persons who used alternative medicine were characterised by a distinct environmental awareness and regular sports activity.

Despite our advances in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, the incidence of mortality is increasing in developed countries. As patients and health care providers seek new options for the treatment and prevention of asthma, various complementary and alternative medical therapies are being used.

In this case study we describe a dual approach to the palliation of difficult muscle spasms using intrathecal baclofen via a fully implanted system, together with the homeopathic approach to symptom control. The homeopathy is seen to complement rather than to replace conventional prescribing and using both approaches together appears to have avoided the necessity for increasing drug doses and to have minimized side-effects.